Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra is set to take the field against Adelaide this Saturday after successfully contesting a one-match ban for striking, which has been downgraded to a fine by the AFL Tribunal. The incident occurred during the third quarter of Carlton's Round 7 victory over Geelong, where Cerra made high contact with Geelong's Jack Bowes.
The Match Review Officer initially graded Cerra's conduct as intentional, low impact, and high contact, resulting in the one-match suspension. However, the Blues mounted a strong defense, arguing that the contact was accidental and should be classified as careless rather than intentional. Their efforts paid off when the Tribunal ruled in their favor, allowing Cerra to play.
Cerra, who is 25 years old, expressed his relief after the decision. "Bowes comes to me and goes to engage through a push, my reaction was to push him back to protect my space, as we do 100 times a game," he explained during the hearing. He further elaborated, stating, "I was surprised to get him high. It was an accident … as the ball went away and we were running off, I checked on him and apologized; he said he was all good, he was well aware it was an accident."
The Tribunal's deliberation lasted over 30 minutes, during which they evaluated the arguments presented by both sides. Carlton's lawyer, Chris Townshend, emphasized that the incident was simply a case of a "push gone wrong" and that Cerra's actions were typical during a stoppage. He argued that the two-handed push was instigated by Bowes, and Cerra was merely responding to protect his position.
In contrast, the AFL maintained that Cerra's actions were intentional, noting that he made a forceful blow while looking at Bowes. Despite this, the Tribunal ultimately agreed with Carlton's assessment, downgrading the charge to a fine. Tribunal Chair Jeff Gleeson stated that while Cerra did strike Bowes with a forceful blow, the act was not intentional, attributing the high contact to Bowes lowering himself during the engagement.
Cerra's successful appeal marks a significant moment for Carlton, as they have been notably effective at the Tribunal in recent years. The Blues have seen multiple successful challenges, including those for players like Nic Newman and Harry McKay. This season, prior to Cerra’s case, clubs had struggled at the Tribunal, with a record of 0-6 in appeals.
Meanwhile, Adelaide defender Mitch Hinge is also preparing to face the Tribunal for a one-game ban stemming from a striking incident involving Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw during a match on April 25, 2025. Hinge's charge has been similarly graded as intentional, low impact, and high contact, and he will be hoping for a more favorable outcome than North Melbourne's Paul Curtis, who had his three-match suspension upheld earlier this week.
In the wake of these decisions, Carlton will be without key players Jack Silvagni and Zac Williams for their upcoming clash against Adelaide, adding to the stakes of the match. The Blues will rely on Cerra's presence to bolster their midfield and maintain momentum as they head into Round 8 of the AFL season.
As the anticipation builds for the match at Adelaide Oval, the outcome of Hinge's Tribunal hearing remains to be seen, with both teams eager to secure vital points in the ongoing season. With Cerra back in action, Carlton fans will be hoping he can make an impact against the Crows this Saturday.
